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January 9 Update From DPW Chair Martha Laning

Elections, Elected Officials, Political Parties - Articles for Elections

Written by Democratic Party of Wisconsin, Martha Laning

Wednesday, 11 January 2017 14:03

wisdems MADISON - Welcome to the New Year and the latest installment of my chair update! I hope you all were able to get some much-needed rest over the holidays and ready to get work in 2017.

Announcing New Executive Director Jason Sidener

As many of you know, DPW Executive Director Kory Kozloski has decided to pursue new opportunities. While we are saddened to see Kory leave the DPW team, we are excited about his future ventures and are looking toward the future of DPW.

With Kory's departure, it was a priority of mine to ensure that the transition between Executive Directors is a smooth one. In order to implement a strong strategic plan right away in 2017, that meant having a new Executive Director who could hit the ground running on January 1st and allow some overlap time with Kory before he leaves.

Last months, our Party's administrative committee voted to approve Jason Sidener as our next Executive Director. Jason Sidener is an incredible addition to our team. He brings nearly two decades of political organizing, grassroots engagement, and progressive movement leadership to our organization.

Read our official announcement here.

The Big Idea

We're coming right out of the gate this year with a number of items to bolster our Spring Program and work towards electing progressive candidates up and down the ballot in April.

One of those items is continuing our local candidate VAN Grant Program! Through the VAN Grant program, candidates who meet the program’s criteria and are committed to voter contact will have the VAN in-kinded to their campaign. Read more about the VAN Grant Program here.

Take a look at a few of the other items we're doing this year to ensure victories in April:

Hosting candidate recruitment conference calls with county parties.
Calling around to various county party chairs to talk about recruitment.
Creating resources for spring candidates and county parties.
Partnering with Wisconsin Progress on some of their training sessions.
Designing training programs for spring candidates and county parties.
General consulting with candidates, similar to how we operated this fall.

Our Party is not waving the white flag in 2017. We are committed to working closely with our local parties, activists, and candidates to produce the statewide victory of Tony Evers as State Superintendent of Public Instruction, build a deep bench, and start taking back our state.

Post-Election Listening Session Update

I'm looking forward to continuing my travels around the state to hear from our volunteers, party members, candidates, and staff members. This month we'll visit Wausau, Milwaukee, and Green Bay.

If you are able, please join us at our listening sessions this month. It has been extremely helpful gathering this information, which we will use when we meet in February we will use this information to strategically plan how we move our party forward.

Save The Date: January 15th Day of Action to Protect Medicare, Medicaid, and Health Reform

Senator Baldwin is teaming up with Rep. Gwen Moore and Citizen Action of Wisconsin to sponsor a rally in Milwaukee as part of a national day of action to tell Republicans not to take away people's health care.

Over the past six years, Congressional Republicans have voted over 60 times to repeal the Affordable Care Act - without presenting any viable alternative. Now with a Republican president poised to enter the White House, one of the first goals for Congressional Republicans is repealing health care insurance for over 20 million Americans, making massive cuts to Medicaid, and restricting access to preventative care for women nationwide.

Progressives believe in the right to affordable and accessible health care for all Americans. We will fight as hard as we can to protect our values and let Republicans know they will not get away with repealing health care for tens of millions of Americans. Join us in Milwaukee on Sunday. Event details are located below.

Event Details
What: January 15th Day of Action to Protect Medicare, Medicaid, and Health Reform
When: Sunday, January 15th
Doors Open: 11:00 AM
Program Begins: 11:30 AM
Where: Candela's Banquet, 2537 W National Ave, Milwaukee
Click here to RSVP for the event online.

Save The Date: President Barack Obama's Farwell Address

Today, President Barack Obama will give his final address to the American people in Chicago. The President is expected to look back on his time in office and share his outlook on the future of our country.

For Democrats, there is a lot to be proud of when it comes to President Obama's legacy. Eight years ago, America hovered on the brink of a second Great Depression. We were losing hundreds of thousands of jobs each month — nearly 800,000 in the month President Obama took office alone.Millions of Americans had lost their homes. Millions more saw hard-earned savings vanish. The auto industry was on the verge of collapse.

But today, the American economy has recovered from the recession, American leadership in the world is stronger than ever, and we’ve made lasting strides toward a more perfect union.

If you don't have tickets to the event in Chicago, you can still stream tomorrow's address online here. Details of the event are below.

Event Details
What: January 15th Day of Action to Protect Medicare, Medicaid, and Health Reform
When: Tuesday, January 10 @ 8 PM
Where: McCormick Place in Chicago, Illinois
Livestream the event online here.

Not going to Chicago? Get ready for his speech tonight with a few articles reflecting on President Obama's legacy.

Obama's Economic Record: An Assesment
Obama’s policies helped lift the economy out of a frightening slump and set it on a path to steady, if unspectacular, growth. In fact, I’d call this his biggest achievement. The scale of the financial panic of 2008 and the extent of the job losses that occurred in the first months of 2009 should never be forgotten. By “a number of macroeconomic measures—including household wealth, employment and trade flows—the first year of the Great Recession in the United States saw declines that were as large or larger than at the outset of the Great Depression in 1929-30,” Jason Furman, the chairman of the White House Council of Economic Advisers, recounted in an exit memo that he posted online this week.
Read the full article on newyorker.com

My President Was Black
A history of the first African-American White House—and of what came next
Read the entire article on theatlantic.com

The Day After: Obama on His Legacy, Trump's Win and the Path Forward
Obama greeted me outside his office and walked me in. He was tired. He skipped the usual small talk, took off his jacket, sat in his customary chair and said, "Let's do this." He spoke slowly and with precision, staying true to his essential nature: controlled, analytical and cool. There are many things a sitting president cannot say, but this was his carefully reasoned message on a difficult and historic day.
Read the entire interview on rollingstone.com

Things You May Have Missed But Need To See Now

First lady Michelle Obama's final White House speech
"Her voice breaking and eyes filling with tears, an unusually emotional Michelle Obama said Friday that being first lady 'has been the greatest honor of my life' as she bid an early farewell to the White House."
Read about and watch the first lady's final White House speech here.

Sen. Tamy Baldwin again asks federal veterans agency to investigate King home
"Sen. Tammy Baldwin is again asking the federal Department of Veterans Affairs to investigate the Wisconsin Veterans Home at King following a hazardous liquid oxygen incident there and additional federal health violations."
Read the full story on Madison.com

Baldwin poised to hold Trump accountable
"From calling on Trump to release his tax returns to unsuccessfully pushing for legislation to require American-made iron and steel to be used in drinking water projects, Baldwin has already sought to set markers. Last month, Baldwin was disappointed when congressional Republicans stripped a permanent 'Buy America' provision she introduced and which the Senate passed in a water infrastructure bill in September. Afterward, Baldwin said she didn't see a 'tweet or a peep' from Trump."
Read the full story on JSOnline.com

Why Rural America Voted for Trump
"Who are these rural, red-county people who brought Mr. Trump into power? I'm a native Iowan and reporter in rural Marion County, Iowa. I consider myself fairly liberal. My family has mostly voted Democratic since long before I was born. To be honest, for years, even I have struggled to understand how these conservative friends and neighbors I respect - and at times admire - can think so differently from me, not to mention how over 60 percent of voters in my county could have chosen Mr. Trump."
Read this column on nytimes.com

Resistance to Donald Trump begins to grow with local roots
"Rachel Maddow looks at examples of a burgeoning anti-Trump movement taking shape with local, grassroots organizing, in some ways mirroring the tea party's anti-Obama movement."
Watch Maddow's segment here.
Read and download the resistance guide mentioned in Maddow's segment here.

Sincerely,
Martha Laning
Chair of the Democratic Party of Wisconsin

Wachs Looks Ahead to 2017-2018 Assembly Session

Elections, Elected Officials, Political Parties - Articles for Elections
Written by Wisconsin Assembly Democrats
Wednesday, 04 January 2017 11:38
*Wachs discusses key priorities including education and transportation.* MADISON - On Tuesday, January 3rd, The Wisconsin State Assembly officially began the 2017-2018 legislative session. Rep. Dana Wachs (D-Eau Claire) took the oath of office for the third time, and offered his outlook on the upcoming session: “Inauguration Day is always an exciting time here in the Capitol. I look forward to meeting the new members of the Assembly and Senate and reconnecting with my colleagues who continue to serve the state of Wisconsin. “In Wisconsin, we have an awful lot of work to do. I know that despite some of the strong differences between our parties and between members, we can find common ground. “One issue that we can all agree upon is that safe and strong transportation systems are vital for our economy. With our roads continuing to deteriorate and important projects being delayed, we simply cannot wait to make difficult but necessary decisions regarding transportation. As the ranking Democratic member on the Assembly Committee on Transportation, I am ready to work on solutions that benefit all Wisconsin citizens and repair the damage to our roads and grow our economy. “In addition to growing our economy through a strong infrastructure, we must refocus our efforts on investing in education at all levels in Wisconsin. Too many school districts are being forced to go to referendum just to survive, and our UW System has had to make serious decisions due to an unprecedented cut in funding. Wisconsin’s once proud tradition of education has been decimated. We must recognize the relationship between strong education and economic development. I remain committed to investing in education and ensuring that Wisconsin is once again a leader in research, workforce development, and economic prosperity. “This session will bring many unique challenges and difficult decisions. I hope that the optimism, enthusiasm, and collegiality from today’s ceremony will continue as we move through the session.”

WI Senate Democratic Leader Lays Out Priorities for 2017-18 Session

Elections, Elected Officials, Political Parties - Articles for Elections
Written by State Senate Democrats
Wednesday, 04 January 2017 10:59
*Shilling wants to strengthen the middle class, boost family wages and invest in the future of Wisconsin.* MADISON, WI – Senate Democratic Leader Jennifer Shilling (D-La Crosse) welcomed new and returning members to the legislature today at the inauguration ceremony for the 103rd Session of the State Legislature. In her inauguration day remarks, Sen. Shilling laid out her vision for the future and policy goals to strengthen the middle class, boost family wages and invest in the future of Wisconsin. “As we seek to balance Wisconsin’s budget deficit and build a brighter future, my Senate Democratic colleagues and I are committed to focusing on the important issues at hand,” said Sen. Shilling. “We will put forward thoughtful proposals to improve workplace flexibility, increase economic freedom and invest in pro-growth policies to strengthen the middle class. We recognize that these aren’t Democratic or Republican issues. They’re Wisconsin issues and we must find ways to work together on these key priorities.” Sen. Shilling’s full remarks to the Senate are below: Mr. President, friends and colleagues. I am honored to join you here today as we begin a new legislative session and address the challenges facing our state. I would like to welcome our new and returning members as well as their families. I especially want to recognize my husband Chris and two boys, Nate and Zach, who are here with me today. Thank you for your unconditional love, support and encouragement. I also want to welcome everyone watching from home on WisconsinEye as well as our guests here in the Senate chamber. While today marks the start of a new session, it also provides our legislature with a clean slate and the opportunity to chart a new course for our state. We all know that Wisconsin is a unique, vibrant and hardworking state full of amazing people and unparalleled potential, but we need a clearer plan to invest in our future and ensure long-term economic success. While the rest of the nation has seen strong job gains, our state has consistently ranked below the national average for job creation, we’ve struggled with declining wages and our aging infrastructure is preventing many businesses from expanding. Wisconsin communities, businesses and residents are already bracing for another round of difficult budget cuts and sacrifices because of fiscal policies that favor the wealthy over working families. It doesn’t have to be this way though. Just across the border in Minnesota, their progressive policies are attracting businesses, growing their middle class, and resulting in major budget surpluses. Just last month, their budget office forecasted a $1.4 billion surplus and they have a $1.9 billion reserve fund. Rather than looking to cut and borrow, they are investing and growing. As we seek to balance Wisconsin’s budget deficit and build a brighter future, my Senate Democratic colleagues and I are committed to focusing on the important issues at hand. We will put forward thoughtful proposals to improve workplace flexibility, increase economic freedom and invest in pro-growth policies to strengthen the middle class. We recognize that these aren’t Democratic or Republican issues. They’re Wisconsin issues and we must find ways to work together on these key priorities. In this new session, it is important to recognize the shortcomings of past policies and look for new ways to deliver on legislative promises. Without adequately investing in our future, Wisconsin will continue to lag our neighboring states in job growth and prosperity. We know that a quality education is the foundation for lifelong success, yet state cuts, local funding challenges and the massive increase of student loan debt have become significant burdens for families. By making targeted investments in our schools, we can improve education outcomes at all levels from pre-K programs to our technical colleges and universities. Senate Democrats will also look for ways to help businesses improve workplace productivity, reduce employee turnover and provide greater workplace flexibility. We want to focus on increasing access to affordable childcare, reducing health care costs and improving retirement security to eliminate the barriers that prevent employers and employees from succeeding in a competitive global marketplace. We also recognize that our government has a responsibility to strengthen communities and private enterprise by maintaining a strong public infrastructure. From repairing aging roads and bridges to encouraging broadband access in urban and rural areas, we need to ensure that our infrastructure is an asset, not a liability, to businesses growth and expansion. Each of the members in this chamber represents a unique district and geographic area of our state, but we are united in our desire to do what’s best for everyone. Rather than focusing on policies that will divide communities, I hope that we will seize this opportunity to set a new tone and find commonsense solutions to the challenges we face. As the Senate Democratic Leader, I look forward to working with Gov. Walker, my legislative colleagues, community leaders and local advocates to strengthen relationships and move Wisconsin forward. By working together, I know that we can provide greater economic opportunity, prosperity and freedom for all to enjoy. Thank you. *** Tony Palese contributed to this story.
Last Updated on Wednesday, 04 January 2017 11:27

Larson Announces Committee Assignments for 2017-2018 Legislative Session

Elections, Elected Officials, Political Parties - Articles for Elections
Written by Wisconsin Senate Democrats
Wednesday, 04 January 2017 09:57
Milwaukee State Senator on Education, Administrative Rules, and Insurance, Housing, and Trade, Agriculture, Small Business, and Tourism committees. Looking forward to working with neighbors and colleagues. MADISON - Senator Chris Larson was named the ranking Democratic member of the Senate Committee on Education, the Senate Committee on Administrative Rules, and the Joint Committee for Review of Administrative Rules. Senator Larson has also been appointed as a member of Senate Committee on Insurance, Housing, and Trade and the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Small Business, and Tourism. Sen. Larson released the following statement on the 2017-2018 committee assignments: “As the lead Democratic member of the Senate Committee on Education last session, I had the opportunity to collaborate with teachers, experts, legislators, advocates, and students to come up with legislation that puts our kids on the road to opportunity. I look forward to continuing our work to strengthen our schools and provide needed support to all students. “Last session, I introduced common sense solutions that our state can and should be spearheading to ensure all of our kids are able to thrive and live a prosperous life. Looking ahead, I will introduce legislation to support the successful community schools model as a proven way to remove learning barriers, such as access to mental health care. Supporting this model will ensure schools are again the center of communities across Wisconsin the way they were meant to be. “Our Milwaukee community has already shown a keen interest in adopting the community schools approach. Milwaukee Public Schools, in partnership with United Way of Greater Milwaukee and Waukesha County, recently announced that two additional schools transitioned into being community schools. I'm proud of our Milwaukee neighbors who have worked hard to ensure all of our students have a bright future, and look forward to working with my legislative colleagues to invest in these initiatives. “Additionally, more and more communities across Wisconsin are passing referendums as they struggle to make up for the state’s failure to invest in our neighborhood schools. In fact, when voters are asked to pick up the state’s tab to provide basic support for their local schools, 80% of the time they say ‘yes.’ Unfortunately, some of our distressed neighborhoods have been economically squeezed dry and simply cannot fill the funding gap left by Governor Walker’s cuts. They need state legislators to end the historic cuts and instead provide every school with their fair share of funding. “As a state senator and as a member of these important committees, I look forward to working with my neighbors and colleagues to support policies that will provide each of our neighbors the freedom to pursue the American Dream.”

Rep. Wachs Announces His 2017-2018 Committee Assignments

Elections, Elected Officials, Political Parties - Articles for Elections
Written by Wisconsin Assembly Democrats
Friday, 30 December 2016 15:32
*Eau Claire area Representative named Ranking Democrat on Assembly Judiciary and Transportation Committees.* MADISON- On Friday, December 30th, Rep. Dana Wachs (D-Eau Claire) announced his committee assignments for the 2017-2018 legislative session. Wachs was once again named the ranking Democratic member on the Assembly Committee on Judiciary, as well as a member of two Assembly committees on which he currently serves: Colleges and Universities, and Constitution and Ethics. In addition to continuing his previous committee assignments, Wachs was also named to the Assembly Committee on Transportation, where he will serve as the ranking Democratic member. “It is an honor to be selected to serve on these committees,” said Wachs. “I respect and appreciate the committee process and the role that each committee plays in the development of policy in Wisconsin.” As a civil litigation attorney for over 30 years, Rep. Wachs plans to continue to put his legal experience to work on the Assembly Committee on Judiciary. “The issues that we face on the Assembly Committee on Judiciary affect everyone,” said Wachs. “The law has been a longtime passion and career of mine, and I appreciate the opportunity to once again use my legal background to create sound public policy.” Wachs also stressed the importance of the Assembly Committee on Transportation, and emphasized the need for common sense solutions to Wisconsin’s significant transportation challenges. “Wisconsin is facing an unprecedented transportation crisis, and the work that we will do on the Transportation committee is more important than ever,” added Wachs. “Under the Walker Administration, we have seen our state’s infrastructure become an embarrassment with crumbling roads and significant project delays. I am ready to work across party lines to ensure that we have safe, strong roads for drivers while still exploring new modes of transportation that reduce stress on our existing infrastructure.” Rep. Wachs represents the 91st Assembly District, which consists entirely of the City of Eau Claire. He will begin his 3rd term in the Assembly on January 3rd.

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